Use of Mechanical Coolers for Space Application 941526
Since some years, Aerospatiale develops various space observation systems. In some of them, equipments have to be cooled below 100K.
Trade off have shown that mechanical coolers have to be used.
The cooling subsystem is composed of the coolers, the cryostat, and the supporting structures.
The design drivers for this subsystem are the mechanical stability of the detector, the thermal (temperature level and stability, heat budget) and electrical performances.
The vibrations induced by the cooler are one of the major concern, and implies to use a set of 2 coolers, plus an active control of the induced vibrations.
A mock-up of one cooling subsystem is being built. The objective is to verify the thermal performances of the cryostat together with the coolers, and to measure the level of induced micro vibration generated by the coolers, in various configurations.
